Waterbury evening Democrat., 1887-12-28
WILL COAL BE CHEAPER ?
READING STRIKERS AGAIN AT THE
 POST OF DUTY.

Busily Engaged in Removing the Thou
 sands of Tons of Coal That Have Ac-
 cumu1ated-PresidentC Corbin's Order to
 the Heads of Departments.
 PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 28.-The order for the striking employees of the Reading com pany to return to work, issued yesterday morning, came rather unexpectedly, though desired by the majority, aud there was a lack of spontaneity in the return to work. This was not due to an unwillngness on the part of the men, but to delay in the circula- tion of the general order to return, coupled with the fact that the dsaffected were rather late in putting in an appearance at their usual places of rendezvous. However, sufh- cient men responded at an early hour to handle what little coal there was on the tracks and more, too, for many had to be put to work at odd jobs until some of the side tracked fuel came down the road.
 It will take three or four days to open the present coal blockade, as all the side tracks between the anthracite regions and Philadel- phia are crowded with cars. On sidings be- tween this city and Port Clinton there are 4,000 cars, representing 10000 tons of coal, waiting to be moved. Below this city all sidings are occupied by loaded and empty trains. At the Reading freight station there has been large accumulation of business, partly due to the strike and partly due to several days suspension over Christmas. But the handlers were busily engaged yes terday in loading and unloading cars.
 The following circular was issued yester. day afternoon from the Reading railroad general office, and has been distributed throughout the company's system:
 A. A. Mcleod, Esq. General Manager:
 nv Tho ctriGy ordor at Dol, p;ot,- monl has developed the fact that many of our old and faithful employees have been compelled by others to join the organization known as the Knights of Labor. While the Reading Railroad company mas never objected to it's employees vol untarily connecting themselves with any labor organization they may fit to join it will pro- tect- them at all hazards and at any cost from being forced into any union where their own wish would be to remain free, and any employe of this company, or of the coal and iron company guilty of using any undue improper influence upon any of our men to force them to join any society against their free will, will, upon proof furnished us, be instantly dismissed from our service and never allowed to return to it. and any employe furnishing such information will be fully protected from any harm by reason thereof. Please give this notice to the general superin- tendent, with orders that 1t be repeated to the heads of every department of the railroad and coal and iron company. Very respectfully,
 AUSTIN CoRBIN, President.
 It was anticipated that some trouble might occur at the Port Richmond round house yesterday afternoon, and for this reason about twenty detectives were stationed in and about Superintendent Flicker's office. About 2 o'clock they were joined by Capt. Linden, of the Pinkerton detective agency, but no disturbance whatever occurred. Police Captain Quirk was also on hand with squad of thirty uniformed policemen. They were stationed in the round house and along the tracks at different points, but were not called into service.